Supercharging on a road trip is like stopping to smell the roses

[jordanair45]

Ya! Well I charge at ridgecrest in the evening. Then my hotel is at Beatty, Nevada. Went to 100% (destination ChargePoin; didn’t really need to need 100% but #safety). Then went through the valley during day time and I cut through Baker, Ca. There’s actually chargers down in the valley that you can go to. See pic.so yes it’s possible to car camp down there. With AC there are also Nema 14-50 ev parks down there.

You just made my labor day weekend, thank you, lol

 

[Rottenapplr]

I carry a small, folding, sit down electric scooter in my frunk. Tool around Supercharging area. Fun to explore while charging.

That’s what I need!!!!

 

[Rottenapplr]

You just made my labor day weekend, thank you, lol

Ya just download google maps offline map, mark the rv parks and ChargePoint chargers just Incase you need a charge when overnighting and running the ac.

I had plenty of charge with my LR RWD M3 coming from Beatty Nv to Death Valley, and back to Baker.

Also follow the main highway going from ridgecrest to Beatty. I got lost when I misjudged a turn. The road went from asphalt to gravel to dirt and I was out there at 11pm at night. It was truly scary until I turned around. Still had plenty of charge because of the long range.

 

[jordanair45]

Ya just download google maps offline map, mark the rv parks and ChargePoint chargers just Incase you need a charge when overnighting and running the ac.

I had plenty of charge with my LR RWD M3 coming from Beatty Nv to Death Valley, and back to Baker.

Also follow the main highway going from ridgecrest to Beatty. I got lost when I misjudged a turn. The road went from asphalt to gravel to dirt and I was out there at 11pm at night. It was truly scary until I turned around. Still had plenty of charge because of the long range.

I have a small interest in astronomy so I went to Death Valley one night for stars....

I used the GPS and was driving for HOURS until I FINALLY got to a main road.

When I got home, I was reading through the material I picked up from the visitor center: "Do not follow GPS, does not work in Death Valley, follow paved roads". Googled this, and multiple people have used GPS in the park and have gotten stranded + died. Thankfully I had a SUV with a lot of gas and off-road capabilities...the range in the Tesla gets me a little nervous being out there with no way to charge. I need a deload

going totally off topic, but yes, 100% true (what you posted).

Awesome park at night, cool at day when you can catch some aircraft training....the vastness, emptiness, silence of the park is truly a great getaway for me.

 

[Rottenapplr]

I have a small interest in astronomy so I went to Death Valley one night for stars....

I used the GPS and was driving for HOURS until I FINALLY got to a main road.

When I got home, I was reading through the material I picked up from the visitor center: "Do not follow GPS, does not work in Death Valley, follow paved roads". Googled this, and multiple people have used GPS in the park and have gotten stranded + died. Thankfully I had a SUV with a lot of gas and off-road capabilities...the range in the Tesla gets me a little nervous being out there with no way to charge. I need a deload

going totally off topic, but yes, 100% true (what you posted).

Awesome park at night, cool at day when you can catch some aircraft training....the vastness, emptiness, silence of the park is truly a great getaway for me.

Yes! That was terrifying being lost. If I had continued I may have run out of power and when it turned day time I would have been screwed.

 

[smartypnz]

Yeah - did the Ridgecrest (or Inyokern) charger and then thru Death Valley to Beatty. Great ride - but wanted to go down to Indian Village and then on to Vegas. Just wasn't confident with availability of charging at Indian Village.

Feels weird traveling in that kind of comfort where early settlers probably never survived crossing - passing signs that recommended turning off A/C to prevent engine overheating. Soon those signs will be gone.

So much fun, will do it again next June and up over Yosemite (Tioga Pass) on the way back via Mammoth Lakes. Also, coming out of Death Valley going west you can view the highest peak in continental US - Mount Whitney.

 

[jordanair45]

Yeah - did the Ridgecrest (or Inyokern) charger and then thru Death Valley to Beatty. Great ride - but wanted to go down to Indian Village and then on to Vegas. Just wasn't confident with availability of charging at Indian Village.

Feels weird traveling in that kind of comfort where early settlers probably never survived crossing - passing signs that recommended turning off A/C to prevent engine overheating. Soon those signs will be gone.

So much fun, will do it again next June and up over Yosemite (Tioga Pass) on the way back via Mammoth Lakes. Also, coming out of Death Valley going west you can view the highest peak in continental US - Mount Whitney.

 

[StealthP3D]

Now if the 3 had a frunk refrigeration unit for road trip snacks/drinks.....

I put a cooler in my frunk and cut some reflective bubble insulation to line the frunk and further insulate it. Without engine heat or windows in the frunk, two large flat ice packs kept it really cool for two days in moderate summer temperatures. I had to ask the hotel I stayed at in Montana to put the ice packs in their big freezer for the return trip. Next time I'll just bring four smaller ice packs that fit in typical hotel freezers.

I saw some strangers in Montana looking pretty surprised when I popped the hood and grabbed some milk out!

 

[electricar]

Put me in with the group that has found road trips stopping to charge every so often more pleasant than driving an ICE car until the gas tank is empty, filling up, a bathroom break, and back on the road. Its funny that I could choose a more leisurely trip in my ICE cars but never have; being forced into it was a blessing in disguise. The only problem is that there is no way to clean the windshield at the supercharger.

 

[mzichao]

Completely agree. This summer we covered 13k miles in 7 weeks hitting 176 superchargers. Because we're playing the "visited" game, we stopped at far more superchargers than we needed to. We played a lot of tag in the grass lots near the superchargers, walked to numerous nearby stores, snacked and ate out of the frunk, and had fewer cranky kid episodes due to being cooped up for long stretches. When you have the time to spare, slowing down and stopping more certainly makes for a more enjoyable trip.

Like your road trip attitudes. Driving an EV requires major change to driving habits vs ICEs. But it's more relaxing and taking time to enjoy the new surroundings and appreciate the small things in life. I'm looking forward to taking my twins out on an extended EV road trip (they are only 3-years-old right now).

 

[CharleyBC]

I don’t think we’ve actually smelled roses while Supercharging, but we do enjoy most of the breaks. A walk. A meal. Casino visit if my father-in-law is with us. We find we arrive after a 12-hour trek much less exhausted. If we ever actually commit to one bike carrying solution or another, we’ve talked about using the bikes to explore, say, Lovelock, NV while we acquire electrons.

 

[lynnpt2001]

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Just did a road trip this weekend from LA to Big Sur to Half Moon bay to San Francisco and back to LA trip and I must say supercharging is like stopping to smell the roses. I love it!

Just to stop for 30-45 mins every 3 hrs makes you want to walk around. Go to a few stores. Walk around the streets. I really enjoyed it. It makes me want to buy an small electric scooter to put around and explore these smalls towns while supercharging and see what’s is within the 5 mile range from my car!

Edit: the only time it would suck supercharging would be noon time in Arizona during the summer lol and having to supercharge in the middle of the night by yourself. That would suck. But you can avoid this by planning of course like when I charged at 830pm before climbing up towards Death Valley. I made sure i had enough charge to not need another charge at like 11pm.

Be really cool to charge the scooter on the super charger, 30 seconds

 

[Zcd1]

The only problem is that there is no way to clean the windshield at the supercharger.

This. Surprised that nobody has devised a theft-resistant squeegee system for these locations...

 

[cpa]

Before the most recent chargegate situation, I would whole-heartedly agree. We have traveled there and back again numerous times and the 20-45 minute Supercharging breaks were ideal!

But with the latest throttling of speeds on many models, we not only smell the roses, we watch them wither and die before gaining enough charge for the next leg. Twenty-minute charges now take over 30 minutes, and 45-minute charges take well over an hour. These longer sessions added nearly two hours to the day's drive over the same trips in the past.

 

[TeeEmCee]

... I must say supercharging is like stopping to smell the roses. I love it!

Just to stop for 30-45 mins every 3 hrs makes you want to walk around. Go to a few stores. Walk around the streets. I really enjoyed it. It makes me want to buy an small electric scooter to put around and explore these smalls towns while supercharging and see what’s is within the 5 mile range from my car!

Next trip: Detroit!

 

[Rottenapplr]

Before the most recent chargegate situation, I would whole-heartedly agree. We have traveled there and back again numerous times and the 20-45 minute Supercharging breaks were ideal!

But with the latest throttling of speeds on many models, we not only smell the roses, we watch them wither and die before gaining enough charge for the next leg. Twenty-minute charges now take over 30 minutes, and 45-minute charges take well over an hour. These longer sessions added nearly two hours to the day's drive over the same trips in the past.

Haven’t heard of charge-gate...

 

[cpa]

Haven’t heard of charge-gate...

There is a 200-some thread devoted to this and "batterygate." If I knew how to link it, I would. But the title is something like "Sudden loss of charging with Version 123xyz software."

 

[matt_net_zero]

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the only time it would suck supercharging would be noon time in Arizona during the summer.

Did that this summer. It honestly wasn't terrible. Along the Mexican border, everyone jumps out, plugs in, and jumps back into their car (with A/C on) while charging. Better than ICE b/c with Tesla you can leave the A/C on while refueling. Still not my favorite, which is why I don't live in the South any longer. We much prefer the parts of the country where we and others sit outside on the grass with our food having little ad hoc picnics every few hours.

 

[moshee]

If there isn't nearby "shelter" you can go to and leave the car to charge this is very true. The issue is that when charging at the SC the Supercan, the AC compressor used to cool the cabin, is soon preoccupied with its other job of keeping the battery pack temp down to protect your battery. On a hot day coming off a long drive leg you can have your HVAC set to Auto on "LO" and it'll still be blowing warmish air from the vents. You won't die (I mean that literally) but if you're used to living in low 70's ambient temps all the time it'll be somewhat uncomfortable.

I drove through 110+°F degree heat (max I saw was 47°C/116°F) over 2 days from OKC to Orange County last weekend and I didn't have any issue with AC getting bogged down (SR+). I had mine set to 74 while charging in Needles with an ambient temp of 113 and it seemed to handle that ok. Didn't check the mi/hr charge rate but it didn't take any longer than I expected for a 15-97% charge. Felt like I almost burned myself on the plug when unplugging though. And the cabin was still uncomfortable due to radiated heat coming in through the glass so I ended up waiting in the shop anyways.

 

[matt_net_zero]

And the cabin was still uncomfortable due to radiated heat coming in through the glass

You reminded me that while in Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona, I added glass roof sunshades to my shopping cart. If we had been staying anywhere long enough for them to ship and arrive, I'd probably have a set in my Model 3 now. We did buy (and is now sitting folded up in the garage, b/c Seattle) and used extensively the shiny silver windshield shade. When we stopped in the sunbelt, we tried to always park with the trunk aimed at the sun. The tail has much better UV protection than the windshield.